Child safety seat

ABSTRACT

A child safety seat includes a seat portion and a backrest portion connected with each other, a headrest slidably connected with the backrest portion, a first and a second side support connected with the backrest portion and respectively protruding forward from the backrest portion at two sides thereof, the first and second side supports being configured to be movable relative to the backrest portion for modifying a transversal distance between the first side support and the second side support, and a linking mechanism adapted to movably link each of the first and second side supports to the headrest so that the headrest and the first and second side supports are movable concurrently relative to the backrest portion for adjustment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to China patent application no.202023196815.1 filed on Dec. 25, 2020.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to child safety seats.

2. Description of the Related Art

A child safety seat is generally used in a vehicle to provide protectionand reduce the impact of accidental collision on a child. The childsafety seat typically includes a seat portion, a backrest portion havingtwo sidewalls respectively protruding forward at a left and a right sidethereof, and a headrest movable along the backrest portion for heightadjustment. Conventionally, the two sidewalls are fixedly attached tothe backrest portion and cannot be conveniently adjusted in accordancewith the size of a child placed in the child safety seat. As a result,the two sidewalls of the backrest portion may not be always adapted toprovide suitable side support for a child. Moreover, a child safety seathaving the aforementioned arrangement has a greater volume, which maynot be convenient for transport or storage.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a child safety seat that hasadjustable side supports and can address at least the foregoing issues.

According to an embodiment, the child safety seat includes a seatportion and a backrest portion connected with each other, a headrestslidably connected with the backrest portion, a first and a second sidesupport connected with the backrest portion and respectively protrudingforward from the backrest portion at two sides thereof, the first andsecond side supports being configured to be movable relative to thebackrest portion for modifying a transversal distance between the firstside support and the second side support, and a linking mechanismadapted to movably link each of the first and second side supports tothe headrest so that the headrest and the first and second side supportsare movable concurrently relative to the backrest portion foradjustment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a childsafety seat;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating some construction details of thechild safety seat including a linking mechanism adapted to movably linktwo side supports at two sides of a backrest portion to a headrest;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the linking mechanism shown inFIG. 2 with the headrest arranged at a highest position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the linkingmechanism configured to movably couple each of the two side supports tothe headrest and also allow transversal movements of the two sidesupports relative to the backrest portion while the headrest remains inposition relative to the backrest portion; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating some construction details of thelinking mechanism shown in FIG. 4 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a childsafety seat 1. The child safety seat 1 includes a seat portion 3, abackrest portion 30, a headrest 20 and two side supports 40. The seatportion 3 and the backrest portion 30 are connected with each other andform a seat suitable for receiving a child. The two side supports 40 areconnected with the backrest portion 30, and respectively protrudeforward from the backrest portion 30 at a left and a right side thereof.The seat portion 3, the backrest portion 30 and the two side supports 40can thereby at least partially delimit a receiving space for seating achild.

The headrest 20 is slidably connected with the backrest portion 30, andcan move vertically along the backrest portion 30 for adjustment inaccordance with the height of a child placed in the child safety seat 1.For example, the headrest 20 may be adjusted between a lower positionwhere the headrest 20 substantially lies within an interior of the childsafety seat 1 between the two side supports 40, and a higher positionwhere the headrest 20 extends above the top of the backrest portion 30.A lower position of the headrest 20 can provide suitable support for achild of a smaller size, and a higher position of the headrest 20 canprovide suitable support for a child of a greater size. Once theheadrest 20 is disposed at a desired height, a headrest lockingmechanism (not shown) provided in the child safety seat 1 can lock theheadrest 20 to the backrest portion 30. Headrest locking mechanisms areknown in the art, the description of which is omitted herein for thesake of brevity.

In conjunction with FIG. 1 , FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic viewsillustrating further construction details of the child safety seat 1.Referring to FIGS. 1-3 , the two side supports 40 can assist in limitingsideways movement of a child sitting on the child safety seat 1. In thisregard, the two side supports 40 may have any suitable dimensions forproviding sideways restraint. For example, each of the two side supports40 may extend from a top of the backrest portion 30 to a bottom of thebackrest portion 30. It will be appreciated, however, that the extent ofthe side supports 40 along the left and right side of the backrestportion 30 may be modified as needed.

The two side supports 40 are configured to be movable relative to thebackrest portion 30 for modifying a transversal distance W between thetwo side supports 40. The transversal distance W can be exemplarily ahorizontal distance that transversally separates the two side supports40 in front of the backrest portion 30. The ability to modify thetransversal distance W between the two side supports 40 allows to adjusta width of the receiving space of the child safety seat 1 in accordancewith the size of the child placed therein. For example, the two sidesupports 40 can move transversally away from each other to increase thetransversal distance W for a child of a greater size, and can movetransversally toward each other to reduce the transversal distance W fora child of a smaller size.

According to an example of construction, the two side supports 40 can beslidably connected with the backrest portion 30 for sliding movementsalong a transversal axis extending from the left side to the right sideof the backrest portion 30. For example, each side support 40 can have acoupling portion 40A that is slidably connected with the backrestportion 30, and a supporting portion 40B that is fixedly connected withthe coupling portion 40A and protrudes forward from the backrest portion30. According to an example of construction, the coupling portion 40Aand the supporting portion 40B may be formed as two panels connectedwith each other, the supporting portion 40B extending at an angle fromthe coupling portion 40A. At each of the left and right side of thebackrest portion 30, the side support 40 can slide transversally todisplace the supporting portion 40B toward or away from an outer sideedge 30E of the backrest portion 30 for adjusting the transversaldistance W.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , each side support 40 can be coupled to thebackrest portion 30 via a sliding connection, which can include, e.g.,at least one rod 32 fixedly connected with the backrest portion 30, andat least one guide slot 43 provided on the side support 40 through whichthe rod 32 is slidably received. According to an example ofconstruction, the coupling portion 40A of each side support 40 can bearranged to overlap and slide generally parallel to a surface 30A of thebackrest portion 30, the rod 32 can be fixedly connected with thesurface 30A of the backrest portion 30, and the guide slot 43 can beprovided on the coupling portion 40A of the side support 40.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 2 and 3 , the coupling portion 40Aof each side support 40 has two guide slots 43 vertically distant fromeach other through which two corresponding rods 32 fixedly connectedwith the backrest portion 30 are respectively received. However, more ofthe guide slots 43 and rods 32 may be provided for slidably connectingeach side support 40 with the backrest portion 30.

It will be appreciated that the sliding connection between the backrestportion 30 and the side support 40 is not limited to the illustratedembodiment. For example, rather than having the rod 32 fixedly connectedwith the backrest portion 30 and placing the guide slot 43 on thecoupling portion 40A of the side support 40, the sliding connectionbetween the backrest portion 30 and the side support 40 may alternatelyhave the rod 32 fixedly connected with the coupling portion 40A of theside support 40 and place the guide slot 43 on the surface 30A of thebackrest portion 30.

As the side support 40 moves transversally relative to the backrestportion 30, the rod 32 can be guided to slide along the correspondingguide slot 43. The sliding connection comprised of the rod 32 and theguide slot 43 can guide sliding movements of the side support 40 andassist in limiting the course of the side support 40 relative to thebackrest portion 30.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 , the transversal movement of the two sidesupports 40 may be linked to the vertical movement of the headrest 20for facilitating the adjustment of the child safety seat 1 in accordancewith the size of a child. To this purpose, the child safety seat 1 caninclude a linking mechanism 10 adapted to movably link each of the twoside supports 40 to the headrest 20. In this manner, a vertical movementof the headrest 20 relative to the backrest portion 30 can cause the twoside supports 40 to concurrently move transversally relative to thebackrest portion 30 so that the height of the headrest 20 and thetransversal distance W between the two side supports 40 can be adjustedin parallel.

According to an example of construction, the linking mechanism 10 canmovably couple each side support 40 to the headrest 20 via a slidingconnection. For example, the linking mechanism 10 can include two rodportions 12 carried with the headrest 20, and two ramped slots 42respectively provided on the two side supports 40. The two ramped slots42 can be respectively provided on the coupling portions 40A of the twoside supports 40. According to an example of construction, the tworamped slots 42 can be substantially symmetric to each other relative toa central longitudinal axis S of the backrest portion 30. The centrallongitudinal axis S can be defined as an axis that extends from a bottomto a top of the backrest portion 30 and is equidistant to the two outerside edges 30E at the left and right sides of the backrest portion 30.The two ramped slots 42 can approach each other as they extend upwardalong the central longitudinal axis S.

The two rod portions 12 move along with the headrest 20 during heightadjustment of the headrest 20, and are respectively connected slidablywith the two ramped slots 42 of the two side supports 40. According toan example of construction, the two rod portions 12 may be fixedlyconnected with the headrest 20 and respectively received through the tworamped slots 42 of the two side supports 40. As the headrest 20 movesrelative to the backrest portion 30 for height adjustment, the two rodportions 12 can respectively slide along the two ramped slots 42 of thetwo side supports 40. Owing to the sliding connection between the rodportions 12 and the ramped slots 42, the two side supports 40 and theheadrest 20 can move concurrently relative to the backrest portion 30.For example, the two side supports 40 can slide transversally away fromeach other while the headrest 20 slides upward, and can slidetransversally toward each other while the headrest 20 slides downward.Accordingly, the height of the headrest 20 and the transversal distanceW between the two side supports 40 can be adjusted in a concurrentmanner.

As children grow differently in size, it may be desirable to providedifferent stages of adjustments for the headrest 20 and the sidesupports 40. For example, the child safety seat 1 may have a first stageof adjustment in which the headrest 20 is movable for height adjustmentwhile the two side supports 40 remain in position relative to thebackrest portion 30, and a second stage of adjustment in which theheadrest 20 and the two side supports 40 are movable concurrentlyrelative to the backrest portion 30 for adjustment. The height of theheadrest 20 can be higher in the second stage of adjustment than in thefirst stage of adjustment.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the linking mechanism 10 can be configuredto provide the aforementioned two stages of adjustment for the headrest20 and the side supports 40. More specifically, each ramped slot 42 canhave two slot portions 42A and 42B connected with each other that extendin different directions. For example, the slot portion 42A can have asubstantially straight shape extending generally parallel to the centrallongitudinal axis S of the backrest portion 30, and the slot portion 42Bcan be tilted relative to the slot portion 42A. According to an exampleof construction, the slot portion 42B can be located above the slotportion 42A and tilted inward (i.e., toward a center region of thebackrest portion 30) relative to the slot portion 42A. A course of therod portion 12 along the slot portion 42A corresponds to the first stageof adjustment, i.e., the headrest 20 is movable for height adjustmentwhile the side support 40 remains in position relative to the backrestportion 30. A course of the rod portion 12 along the slot portion 42Bcorresponds to the second stage of adjustment, i.e., the headrest 20 andthe side support 40 are movable concurrently relative to the backrestportion 30 for concurrently adjusting the height of the headrest 20 andthe transversal distance W between the two side supports 40.

In the first stage of adjustment, the two rod portions 12 canrespectively travel along the slot portions 42A of the two ramped slots42 as the headrest 20 slides relative to the backrest portion 30 forheight adjustment, and the two side supports 40 can remain in positionrelative to the backrest portion 30 to keep a smallest transversaldistance W between the two side supports 40. In the second stage ofadjustment, the two rod portions 12 can respectively travel along theslot portions 42B of the two ramped slots 42 as the headrest 20 and thetwo side supports 40 move concurrently relative to the backrest portion30 for adjustment: for example, the two side supports 40 can move alongwith the headrest 20 to gradually increase the transversal distance Wwhen the headrest 20 slides upward, and can move along with the headrest20 to gradually reduce the transversal distance W when the headrest 20slides downward. A greatest transversal distance W between the two sidesupports 40 can be obtained when the two rod portions 12 reach the endsof the slot portions 42B.

In certain circumstances, it may further be desirable to allowadjustment of the transversal distance W between the two side supports40 without movement of the headrest 20. For example, when the childsafety seat 1 is not used and the headrest 20 is locked in a highestposition relative to the backrest portion 30, the two side supports 40could be arranged to reduce the transversal distance W so that the childsafety seat 1 is more compact for easy storage or transport. In thisregard, FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views illustrating an embodiment ofthe linking mechanism 10 configured to movably couple each of the twoside supports 40 to the headrest 20 as described previously, and alsoallow transversal movements of the two side supports 40 relative to thebackrest portion 30 while the headrest 20 remains in position relativeto the backrest portion 30. In FIG. 4 , the coupling portion 40A of oneof the two side supports 40 is omitted to better show constructiondetails of the linking mechanism 10.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the linking mechanism 10 can likewisemovably link each side support 40 to the headrest 20 via a slidingconnection comprised of the rod portion 12 carried with the headrest 20and the ramped slot 42 provided on the side support 40. In the exampleof FIGS. 4 and 5 , the linking mechanism 10 further includes two carrierparts 14 that are respectively connected fixedly with the two rodportions 12 and are movably coupled to the headrest 20, whereby thecarrier parts 14 and the rod portions 12 coupled thereto are movablerelative to the headrest 20. According to an example of construction,each of the two rod portions 12 and the corresponding carrier part 14may be attached to each other via a fastener. According to anotherexample of construction, each of the two rod portions 12 and thecorresponding carrier part 14 may be formed integrally as a single part.

Each of the two carrier parts 14 can be connected with the headrest 20for sliding movements along a transversal axis extending from the leftside to the right side of the headrest 20. According to an example ofconstruction, each carrier part 14 can have a base portion 141 to whichthe corresponding rod portion 12 is fixedly attached, and two protrudingportions 142 and 143 respectively connected with the base portion 141 attwo opposite sides thereof. The two protruding portions 142 and 143 canbe respectively connected slidably with two parallel guide slots 22provided on the headrest 20 so that the carrier part 14 and the rodportion 12 carried thereon can slide transversally relative to theheadrest 20.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the linking mechanism 10 can furtherinclude one or more resilient part 16 configured to apply a biasingforce that opposes inward movements of the two side supports 40 forreducing the transversal distance W. In the illustrated example, the oneor more resilient part 16 can movably bias each of the two carrier parts14 and the corresponding rod portion 12 in an outward direction awayfrom a center region of the headrest 20, i.e., which displaces the tworod portions 12 transversally away from each other. Since the two rodportions 12 are respectively connected slidably with the two rampedslots 42, the biasing force of the one or more resilient part 16 canoppose inward movements of the two side supports 40 that would reducethe transversal distance W.

According to an example of construction, two resilient parts 16 can beprovided, which are respectively connected with the two carrier parts14. The resilient parts 16 include, without limitation, springs. Each ofthe two resilient parts 16 can have an end connected with thecorresponding carrier part 14 and another end connected with theheadrest 20. The biasing force applied by each resilient part 16 canoppose an inward movement of the corresponding side support 40.

The linking mechanism 10 of FIGS. 4 and 5 can movably link each of thetwo side supports 40 to the headrest 20 and provide the two stages ofadjustment for the headrest 20 and the side supports 40 as previouslydescribed. In the first stage of adjustment, the two rod portions 12 canrespectively travel along the slot portions 42A of the two ramped slots42 as the headrest 20 slides relative to the backrest portion 30 forheight adjustment, and the two side supports 40 can remain in positionrelative to the backrest portion 30 to keep a smallest transversaldistance W between the two side supports 40. In the second stage ofadjustment, the two rod portions 12 can respectively travel along theslot portions 42B of the two ramped slots 42 as the headrest 20 and thetwo side supports 40 move concurrently relative to the backrest portion30 for adjustment.

Moreover, the linking mechanism 10 of FIGS. 4 and 5 allows transversalmovements of the two side supports 40 independent of the headrest 20 formodifying the transversal distance W. For example, while the headrest 20is kept in position relative to the backrest portion 30 in the secondstage of adjustment (e.g., at an uppermost position), the two sidesupports 40 may be urged to move inward relative to the backrest portion30 toward each other for reducing the transversal distance W between thetwo side supports 40, which can overcome the biasing force of theresilient parts 16 and cause the two rod portions 12 to slidetransversally toward each other relative to the headrest 20. By reducingthe transversal distance W between the two side supports 40, the childsafety seat 1 can be more compact for easy storage or transport.

According to an example of construction, a locking mechanism may beadded to hold and release the two rod portions 12 with respect to theheadrest 20. For example, the locking mechanism may be configured toengage with the two carrier parts 14 to hold the two rod portions 12 inposition relative to the headrest 20, and disengage from the two carrierparts 14 to allow transversal sliding movements of the two rod portions12 relative to the headrest 20. After the two side supports 40 are movedtoward each other independent of the headrest 20 for reducing thetransversal distance W, the locking mechanism can be engaged to hold thetwo rod portions 12 in position relative to the headrest 20, which canoppose the biasing force of the two resilient parts 16 and retain thetwo side supports 40 in position relative to the backrest portion 30.When the two side supports 40 need to be expanded, the locking mechanismcan be disengaged, and the biasing force of the two resilient parts 16can urge the two rod portions 12 to move away from each other andthereby urge the two side supports 40 to move relative to the backrestportion 30 away from each other.

Although the foregoing has described examples in which the rod portions12 are carried with the headrest 20 and the ramped slots 42 are providedon the side supports 40, it will be appreciated that the linkingmechanism 10 is not limited to the illustrated examples. According to avariant construction, the two rod portions 12 may be respectivelycarried with the two side supports 40 and the headrest 20 can have tworamped slots respectively connected slidably with the two rod portions12, which can provide a linking mechanism that can likewise movably linkthe two side supports 40 to the headrest 20 and operate like describedpreviously. In such a variant construction, each of the two ramped slotson the headrest can likewise have two slot portions that extend indifferent directions, a first one of the two slot portions having asubstantially straight shape that extends generally parallel to thecentral longitudinal axis S of the backrest portion, and a second one ofthe two slot portions being located below the first slot portion andtilted outward relative to the first slot portion.

In a construction where the two rod portions 12 are respectively carriedwith the two side supports 40 rather than the headrest 20, the carrierpart 14 and resilient part 16 shown in FIG. 5 may further be provided oneach side support 40 to allow transversal movements of the side support40 independent of the headrest 20 for modifying the transversal distanceW. More specifically, the carrier part 14 can be connected fixedly withthe rod portion 12 and slidably connected with the side support 40 fortransversal movements relative to the side support 40, and the resilientpart 16 can be respectively connected with the carrier part 14 and theside support 40 and can apply a biasing force that opposes an inwardmovement of the side support 40.

Advantages of the child safety seat described herein include the abilityto transversally move the two side supports at the left and right sideof the backrest portion so that a width of the receiving space where achild is seated can be adjusted in accordance with the size of thechild. Moreover, the two side supports can be movably linked to theheadrest of the child safety seat so that the side supports and theheadrest are movable concurrently for convenient adjustment.

Realization of the child safety seat has been described in the contextof particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to beillustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications,additions, and improvements are possible. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope ofthe inventions as defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A child safety seat comprising: a seat portionand a backrest portion connected with each other; a headrest slidablyconnected with the backrest portion; a first and a second side supportconnected with the backrest portion and respectively protruding forwardfrom the backrest portion at two sides thereof, the first and secondside supports being configured to be movable relative to the backrestportion for modifying a transversal distance between the first sidesupport and the second side support; and a linking mechanism configuredto movably link each of the first and second side supports to theheadrest so that the headrest and the first and second side supports aremovable concurrently relative to the backrest portion for adjustment andto allow transversal movements of the first and second side supportsrelative to the backrest portion while the headrest remains in positionrelative to the backrest portion.
 2. The child safety seat according toclaim 1, wherein each of the first and second side supports extends froma top of the backrest portion to a bottom of the backrest portion. 3.The child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein each of the firstand second side supports includes a coupling portion slidably connectedwith the backrest portion, and a supporting portion that is fixedlyconnected with the coupling portion and protrudes forward from thebackrest portion.
 4. The child safety seat according to claim 3, whereinthe coupling portion and the supporting portion are formed as two panelsconnected with each other, the supporting portion extending at an anglefrom the coupling portion.
 5. The child safety seat according to claim3, wherein the coupling portion of the first side support is arranged tooverlap and slide generally parallel to a surface of the backrestportion, one of the surface of the backrest portion and the couplingportion of the first side support being fixedly connected with a rod,and the other one of the surface of the backrest portion and thecoupling portion of the first side support having a guide slot throughwhich the rod is slidably received.
 6. The child safety seat accordingto claim 1, wherein the linking mechanism movably couples each of thefirst and second side supports to the headrest via a sliding connection.7. The child safety seat according to claim 6, wherein the linkingmechanism includes a rod portion provided on one of the headrest and thefirst side support, and a ramped slot provided on the other one of theheadrest and the first side support, the rod portion being slidablyconnected with the ramped slot.
 8. The child safety seat according toclaim 7, wherein the ramped slot has a first and a second slot portionconnected with each other that extend in different directions.
 9. Thechild safety seat according to claim 8, wherein a course of the rodportion along the first slot portion corresponds to a first stage ofadjustment where the headrest is movable for height adjustment while thefirst side support remains in position relative to the backrest portion,and a course of the rod portion along the second slot portioncorresponds to a second stage of adjustment where the headrest and thefirst side support are movable concurrently relative to the backrestportion.
 10. The child safety seat according to claim 8, wherein thefirst slot portion has a substantially straight shape extendinggenerally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the backrestportion.
 11. The child safety seat according to claim 10, wherein thesecond slot portion is tilted relative to the first slot portion. 12.The child safety seat according to claim 11, wherein the second slotportion is located above the first slot portion and is tilted toward acenter region of the backrest portion.
 13. The child safety seataccording to claim 1, wherein the linking mechanism includes a carrierpart that is connected fixedly with a rod portion and slidably connectedwith one of the headrest and the first side support, and a ramped slotprovided on the other one of the headrest and the first side support,the rod portion being slidably connected with the ramped slot.
 14. Thechild safety seat according to claim 13, wherein the ramped slot has afirst and a second slot portion connected with each other that extend indifferent directions.
 15. The child safety seat according to claim 14,wherein a course of the rod portion along the first slot portioncorresponds to a first stage of adjustment where the headrest is movablefor height adjustment while the first side support remains in positionrelative to the backrest portion, and a course of the rod portion alongthe second slot portion corresponds to a second stage of adjustmentwhere the headrest and the first side support are movable concurrentlyrelative to the backrest portion.
 16. The child safety seat according toclaim 14, wherein the first slot portion has a substantially straightshape extending generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of thebackrest portion.
 17. The child safety seat according to claim 16,wherein the second slot portion is tilted relative to the first slotportion.
 18. The child safety seat according to claim 13, wherein thelinking mechanism further includes a resilient part connected with thecarrier part, the resilient part being configured to apply a biasingforce that opposes an inward movement of the first side support forreducing the transversal distance between the first side support and thesecond side support.